Michigan State University has issued an apology after a photograph of Adolf Hitler was displayed on the videoboards at Spartan Stadium during a pregame quiz before Saturday night’s football game against the University of Michigan.
The image, accompanied by a trivia question asking where Adolf Hitler was born, circulated on social media before the game even began. The university was quick to apologize and take responsibility for the incident.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, university spokesperson Matt Larson said, “MSU is aware that inappropriate content by a third-party source was displayed on the videoboard prior to the start of tonight’s football game. We are deeply sorry for the content that was displayed, as this is not representative of our institutional values. MSU will not be using the third-party source going forward and will implement stronger screening and approval procedures for all videoboard content in the future.”
Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics, Alan Haller, also released a statement, “An initial assessment was conducted, and an involved employee has been identified and suspended with pay pending the results of an investigation. The investigation will determine any future appropriate actions. Ultimately, it is my responsibility to make sure all those who interact with Spartan Athletics feel safe, valued, and respected. I apologize for the pain it has caused our community.”
The field before Saturday night’s game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
Michigan State Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff also apologized in an email sent to alumni entitled, “The work we must do.” She stated, “I am deeply sorry for the image displayed at Spartan Stadium, which made many of our community feel alienated and unsafe. It was unacceptable. I will work with our Jewish community and every member of minoritized populations to ensure Spartans feel that this is a place where everyone can live, work, go to class, and attend events that are welcoming.”
The quiz was part of a video from a YouTube page called The Quiz Channel, which has been used all season before each home game. The creator of The Quiz Channel, Floris van Pallandt, stated in an email to CNN that the university’s use of his channel’s content was unauthorized. He also defended the question about Hitler’s birthplace as legitimate but inappropriate for a live stadium audience.
This incident comes at a time when tensions are high on college campuses and around the world, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza and a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The university has committed to implementing stronger screening procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
